The merry Old VVoman: OR,

This is a good Old Woman,
This is a merry Old Woman,
Her counsell is good Ile warrant,
For shee doth wish ill to no Man.
To the tune, This is my Grannams deedle.
[figure]
[figure]
COme hither good-fellowes, come hither,
Good counsell if you will learne it,
I heere in a Song will shew it,
If you have but wit to discerne it.
O this is a good old Woman,
O this is a merry old Woman,
Her counsell is good Ile warrant,
For she doth wish ill to no man.
He that doth woo a Maiden,
Must use sometimes to flatter,
And he that would woo a Widdow,
Must seriously speake good matter.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would have a Woman
Dificious unto his humour,
Must alwaies be loving unto her,
And be no vaine consumer.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
She that would please her Parents,
Must her affections bridle,
And still have a care however,
To shun all company idle.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
And she that would have a Husband,
Merry to sing, with a fadding,
No cause of distaste must give him
Abroad for to goe gadding.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would gaine true honour,
Must hate to be a coward:
And he that would live in quiet,
Must marry no Widdow that's froward.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
And he that would eate, must labour,
And carefully follow his calling:
And he that a Scold doth marry,
Shee'll vex him all day with her brawling.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
She that would faine be married,
And wants both [...]ortion and beauty,
Must unto her Master and Mistresse
Owe good respect and duty,
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
To gaine their loves and favour,
Then may she hope the better,
To get a kinde Husband will love her,
To toyle then, he will not let her.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would séeke preferment,
Must neatly usher a Lady,
And weare good cloathes for his credit,
And still at a call be ready.
O this is a good old Woman,
O this is a merry old Woman,
Her counsell is good Ile warrant,
For she doth wish ill to no man,

The second part,

To the same tune.
[figure]
[figure]
ANd he that would be a Courtier,
Must be with good parts adorned,
To please his Masters humour,
Or else he shall be scorned.
O this is a good old Woman,
O this is a merry old woman,
Her counsell is good Ile warrant,
For shee doth wish ill to no man.
She that would have no scandall
Or imputation on her,
Must not frequent a Burdello,
But chaste Diana honour.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
Brave Girles [...] there be a many
Goe richly in their apparell,
Which makes the roring Gallants,
About them so to quarrell.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would be no Cuckold,
Then let him never marry,
It were a horne-plague unto him,
A jealous minde to carry.
O this is a good old Woman, &c.
And he that would raise his fortunes,
Being poore left by his Dady:
He must be stout and valiant,
Faint heart ne'r won faire Lady.
O this is a good old Woman.
He that would be a Scholler,
Must hate your drinks that is muddy:
But a cup of good Canary
Will make him the better t [...] study.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
And he that would be a Poet,
Must no wayes be stocke-pated:
His ignorance i [...] he shew it,
He shall of all Schollers be hated.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would be a Goodfellow,
Of meanes must be prepared:
If that he love drinke and Tobacco,
Or else he shall be feared.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would be a Taylor,
Must active be and nimble:
And he that would be a goodliver,
Most hate to lye and dissemble.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
He that would be a Musician,
Must neatly run division,
To humour each joviall Gallant,
Or else he is held in derision.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
And he that would strive for riches,
Or how to get a good marriage,
Must still in his carriage be wary,
That nothing his credit disparage.
O this is a good old Woman, amp;c.
And he that would learne true goodnesse,
Must daily himselfe endeavour,
To hate all wicked lewdnesse,
And still in all grace persever.
Oh this is a good old Woman,
O this is a merry old Woman,
Her counsell is good Ile warrant,
For she doth wish ill to no man.
Robert Guy.
FINIS.

Printed at London for F. Coules dwelling Old Baily.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.